[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 1 (Monday, January 11, 1993)]
[Pages 23-24]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting Proposed Legislation on 
Colorado Public Lands Wilderness

 January 7, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    I am pleased to submit for congressional consideration and passage 
the ``Colorado Public Lands Wilderness Act''.
    The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), (43 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), directs the Secretary of the Interior to review 
the wilderness potential of the public lands.
    The review of the areas identified in Colorado began immediately 
after the enactment of FLPMA and has now been completed. Approximately 
771,822 acres of public lands in 54 areas in Colorado met the minimum 
wilderness criteria and were designated as wilderness study areas 
(WSAs). These WSAs were studied and analyzed during the review process 
and the results documented in eight environmental impact statements and 
five instant study area reports. The wilderness studies and reviews have 
now been completed except for four areas that are contiguous to the 
Sangre de Cristo Study Area administered by the U.S. Forest Service and 
were studied under section 202 of FLPMA. They will remain under 
wilderness review pending resolution of the Sangre de Cristo study.
    Based on the studies and reviews of the WSAs, the Secretary of the 
Interior recommends that all or part of 20 of the WSAs, totaling 395,792 
acres of public lands, be designated as part of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System.
    I concur with the Secretary of the Interior's recommendations and am 
pleased to rec- 

[[Page 24]]

ommend designation of the 18 areas (395,792 acres) identified in the 
enclosed bill as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation 
System.
    The proposed additions represent the diversity of wilderness values 
in the State of Colorado. These range from the 14,000-foot Redcloud Peak 
to the canyons of the Dolores, Gunnison, and Yampa Rivers, to the 13 
natural arches of the Black Ridge Canyons. These areas span a wide 
variety of Colorado landforms, ecosystems, and other natural systems and 
features. Their inclusion in the wilderness system will improve the 
geographic distribution of wilderness areas in Colorado, and will 
complement existing areas of congressionally designated wilderness. They 
will provide new and outstanding opportunities for solitude and 
unconfined recreation.
    The enclosed draft legislation provides that designation as 
wilderness shall not constitute a reservation of water or water rights 
for wilderness purposes. This is consistent with the fact that the 
Congress did not establish a Federal reserved water right for wilderness 
purposes. The Administration has established the policy that, where it 
is necessary to obtain water rights for wilderness purposes in a 
specific wilderness area, water rights would be sought from the State by 
filing under State water laws. Furthermore, it is the policy of the 
Administration that the designation of wilderness areas should not 
interfere with the use of water rights, State water administration, or 
the use of a State's interstate water allocation.
    The draft legislation also provides for access to wilderness areas 
by Indian people for traditional cultural and religious purposes. Access 
by the general public may be limited in order to protect the privacy of 
religious cultural activities taking place in specific wilderness areas. 
In addition, to the fullest extent practicable, the Department of the 
Interior will coordinate with the Department of Defense to minimize the 
impact of any overflights during these religious cultural activities.
    I further concur with the Secretary of the Interior that all or part 
of 46 of the WSAs encompassing 376,030 acres are not suitable for 
preservation as wilderness.
    Also enclosed are a letter and report from the Secretary of the 
Interior concerning the WSAs discussed above and a section-by-section 
analysis of the draft legislation. I urge the Congress to act 
expeditiously and favorably on the proposed legislation so that the 
natural resources of these WSAs in Colorado may be protected and 
preserved.
    Sincerely,
                                                   George Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.